Sass’s heart sank slightly at the first reply to her invitation. A jumpy guy with a bandana around his face and a snapback hat casting shadows over his eyes. [i]” Who the hell are you and why should I take orders from you?[/i]” was his query. Sass matched his glare evenly, but decided to wait for the rest of the responses before setting him straight. 

The next reply came from the only other female in the room, and instantly reassured Sass. The barrage of questions indicated that, at very least, this girl was smart and able to think on her toes. Sass felt a slight bit of sympathy for her as she mentioned she wasn’t living within the city. Of course she couldn’t. If she didn’t have a place to stay, she’d be rounded up within a few days and arrested for breaking curfew. Thankfully, another of the gathered Sprayers spoke up, offering his couch, and also agreeing to join Sass on his own terms. Sass nodded a grateful acknowledgement to him, recognizing his voice as the one who had earlier complained about someone painting on his clouds. Had to be Free. 

“There ya go, you’ve got a place,” Sass said, smiling beneath her bandana. She drew everyone’s attention to her, focusing in particular on the man who’d accused her of giving orders. “Lookit here. She’s smart enough to think up a few questions instead of getting all uptight about me giving [i]orders[/i].”

“Payment’s in cash. Always cash. I don’t work with bank transfers or cheques or any of that fanciness. Too easy to trace. As for how you get it, I handle picking it up and passing it on,” Sass explained. Before anyone could accuse her of hoarding the money, she elaborated. “Safest that way, y’know? If any of our clients decide to start getting cozy with the authorities, I’m the only one they can talk about. Latest you’ll have your money is two days after you work a job, usually less than that. I like things organized. Money things, anyways.”

She turned to Dodger, listening with slight apprehension to his monologue. Of course he had to draw everyone’s attention to how dangerous their job was. However, his quick salute reassured her once more. [i]"Yes. Si. Oui. да. Under no circumstances would I say no."[/i] 

Sass grinned broadly beneath her red bandana at his enthusiasm. He was quickly joined by another, a lanky young man in roller blades who dwarfed Sass in height by well over a foot. Having heard Dodger address him earlier, Sass could only assume this was Clarion. The last to speak up was the man who’d stood still and silent near the back of the room. He agreed with a simple, “[i]In. Of course.[/i]”

Sass nearly flinched at his voice. She hadn’t heard it in months, but it wasn’t easy to forget the sound of your crew. Kraut had been a part of her crew, and his voice sent sharp familiarity through her mind. Except Kraut was in jail. Kraut was in jail with Mouse and Scarecrow, and wouldn’t be out anytime soon. She nodded to him, hoping she didn’t look too shaken by the sound of his voice.

 Now that everyone had spoken up, she turned back to Jager, crossing the room to stand before him. Like everyone else in the room, he stood well above her head. But Sass carried herself in a way that suggested she could easily look down on him. “Who the hell am I, and why should you take orders from me…” she said easily, restating his earlier question. “First question. I’m Sass. You can figure out all you need to know about me by asking around on the streets. Do your homework. Second question,” she continued, her eyes narrowing in irritation. “Orders? If you’re gonna be making accusations like that, you might as well leave right now. I don’t do orders. I do damn smart suggestions, but it’s up to you whether you’re gonna listen to ‘em or not.”

She raised an eyebrow, prepared for a smart response. But before any could come, a noise outside the apartment made Sass tense visibly. However, she relaxed once more when she saw who it was. “Hey Relic,” opting for the latter of his monikers. “Glad ya made it. Everyone, Relic’s a genius. Knows the city and the system better than anyone. Even me and you.”

She stepped back, once again regarding the entire group. “Time for me to get names straight.” Pointing at each of the Sprayers in turn, she addressed them by the names she’d managed to work out with logic. “So we got Dodger and Clarion. Free, love your clouds, sorry about the ‘X’ on ‘em.” 

She looked to the Anarcho, and to Jager. “Not sure of either of your names yet. Sorry,” she apologized, though the apology was really just a way of saying ‘oops’ rather than begging forgiveness. She glanced back at Gray. “And you as well.”